after irene

I am very thankful that Irene

was not as strong as expected.

However, 

my heart goes out to all  

who were affected.

Our house fared well,

as did John - 

who mostly slept through

the storm.

He is without power

like 5 million others

and that,

we can live with.

Here are some pics

he sent me yesterday:

only in the hamptons

say it ain't so

I am an optimist

- an eternal optimist.

I haven't worried 

one minute

about this hurricane...

until tonight.

John cancelled his trip home

to stay and take care of business

- wines and vines and horses.

Oh,

and our home!

When I moved back to Georgia,

I didn't want to leave 

the life I had in NY,

so I left

Everything -

my treasured children's pictures,

my favorite oil painting,

my cherished persian rug,

and my beloved india ink drawing.

Hmmm....

maybe that wasn't such a great decision.

And all that's just stuff.

After losing my brother, 

I will never feel the same about possessions again.

John is there

and I'm a little worried.

Although, I will admit...

I wish I was there.

I'd have a hurricane party

in the wine cellar!

mini masters

 John and I were contacted by a friend yesterday.

He asked that we send him

the best Mini Masters 

pictures of C

from this summer.

I had a blast

scrolling through 

and picking out

my favorites.

Here are a few:

She was actually riding in this pic.
It looks like she was standing still.

I could pick

a thousand more...

What a summer.

hoppy monday

We had a wild bunny living in our Sag Harbor yard this summer.

The kids loved it.

They would pet it and

even feed it carrots.

I felt like 

Peter Cottontail 

had dropped in for a visit.

I wonder if he misses us...

summer reflections

As I fall into the sobering reality

of a full time job,

it makes me wax nostalgic

on that vague memory

called 

summer...

We enjoyed our annual trek
to Sunset Beach.

When we arrived,
it was late afternoon
and perfectly picturesque.

John 

managed to score the 

perfect table.
The view was 

Insane.

It grew

more and more

beautiful

as the sun set.

We talked.

We laughed.

We ate.

We savored

Andre's rose'.

And

as usual,

closed the place

down.

Aaaahhhh,

summer.

Thanks for the memories.

class pet

I'll get back to those fancy Hampton posts

one day soon, 

but right now

my job is consuming me.

Here's a reason I love teaching:

My student today: 

 "Mrs. Nida,

my mom said I should inform you

I'm bringing in a class pet."

Me:

"Oh, reaaaallly?"

The student:

"Yep.

You're going to need to get 

A Lot 

of 

Crickets

to feed it..."

status quo

Have you ever

changed everything

and questioned why?

Things were rolling along quite smoothly

and then...

you make a big change.

Next, you wonder why you ever did

something so crazy.

Welll....

all week

I've been questioning why.

Why on Earth

did I decide to go back to work

Full Time?

Life was rolling along 

pretty well.

It has been a crazy week -

orientation and meetings all week

and required evening events.

I'm Exhausted.

For those of you who don't know,

I am a Teacher.

I am also a Believer.

I Believe in this school.

I Believe in the Mission Statement.

I Believe in the Standards of Excellence -

both Academically and Morally.

I am here because

I Believe.

I moved my children back from New York

 to attend this school.

I never Dreamed

I would have the opportunity to work here again.

All week,
I have been amazed
at the professionalism
of my co-workers.

I  will be moved

Monday morning

during convocation,

when flags from 43 countries

representing the student and faculty population 

are displayed.

I have the Most Amazing class.

It will all work out.  

I Can Do This.

(right?)

day dreaming

I started a new job this week.

I love it.

However, 

occasionally

I find myself 

wishing I were 

here...

Sagg Main Beach

buckskill

During our time in New York,

Lyons played tennis at all of the usual Hampton locations.

However, this summer

he decided to play tennis here:

It has this charming little clubhouse

and beautiful grass courts.

I wish I had a close up picture of Lyons

but I didn't want to embarrass him 

by being the stalker mom with the zoom lens.

(All the rules change at 14.)

He loved it and it quickly became his favorite place to play  in NY.

This covered porch overlooks the clay courts ~

which are in immaculate shape.

I find that amazing

because this is what we do at Buckskill

in the winter.

buckskillwinterclub.com

Can you smell the hot chocolate?

fat, sick, and nearly dead

Our children are at the ages that they no longer like to hang out with us.

It's sad, but true.

Lyons would prefer to be on xbox or the laptop

and C would like to be anywhere, but home.

One evening this summer,

we decided that we would watch a movie together, as a family.

And then...

I had the brilliant idea that

instead of just watching a movie together,

we could Learn something.

The kids were (not) thrilled!

We decided to use the xbox 

to pull up Netflix

and watch a free documentary.

And so began -

a new tradition.

Turns out...

we actually enjoyed evenings together

watching documentaries.

My favorite was 

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.

John and I can't stop talking about it.

It is the most amazing, inspirational story

of two men who made radical changes in their lifestyles

to improve their health.

It moved me.

It informed me.

It made me think.

If you get a chance,

watch it.

secret garden

Yesterday it was 100 degrees in Georgia,

with a heat index of 105-110.

It was m i s e r a b l e.

I wish I were here:

My friend's secret garden behind her Hampton home.

She always had a chilled bottle of sparkling rose' to share.

It was our summer staple for lazy afternoons

and good conversation.

You can't quite make it out, 

but there is a large raised gazebo between

the tennis courts and the pool
where we would sit.

A cool breeze would blow in from the ocean

and we would occasionally have to slip on a sweater 

while watching the girls swim.

I wonder what she's doing today...

take me out to the ball game!

Today, I may have a broken washing machine, 

and meetings regarding a new job...

but LAST Tuesday I was here:

 I've never actually been a sports fan.

(Please don't tell my dad - 

who attended FSU on a full football scholarship!)

World Peace,

I could cheer for...

but not sports.

At least not until I went to my first Yankees game!

The pride New Yorkers have for their state

is matched by their enthusiasm

for their teams.

It's palpable

and contagious.

It was so easy to

fall in love.

Jeeeeeter!

We had a great time.

And my only regret...

is not having attended more games

over the past five years.

Go Yankees!